PR AYER GAMES

A collection of physical ways to pray for people to hold on to the different knots, invite them to pray for come to know Jesus as a group. the people who have been mentioned, either silently You might organise these ideas as a session of active or out loud. Assure them it doesn’t mean they have to fun for families at your or in the park, remember exactly who said what about each knot. maybe bringing in a bouncy castle to collapse on at • It will help to have some simple words to say as a the end and with lots of healthy snacks to keep signal for the knots to be passed on for the next everyone going. pause for prayer, for example: Thank you God that Alternatively, you might pick out one or two activities you love us all. to use in groups or services during the week. • Once all the knots been passed around, or when you think the time has been long enough, invite everyone to untie the knot in front of them – apart Rope from the knot in the larger rope – as a way of showing Prayer ropes are not uncommon as an aid to that you trust that God has heard your prayer. intercession in Orthodox , and of course • You could make the prayer rope available in (a ) are well known in the Catholic subsequent sessions at church and encourage people tradition. A prayer rope is basically a way to focus our to go up and tie on a piece of rope whenever they prayers for others, or to become still before God. Here want to, as an expression of committing a particular the tying and untying of the prayer knots makes con- person to God’s love. crete an opportunity to pray for different people and situations. Cross prayers a long, fairly thick three-stranded piece You will need: The cross is central to our Christian faith and it is the of rope – enough to create a circle on to which each way we can come close to God in prayer. In this active person in the group can hold. You will also need a prayer exercise, a group can explore a range of ways that number of shorter pieces of rope of different colours, a cross can be made and expressed with the body. at least one for everyone in the group. Practise them together, then, for the actual prayer. The leader can invite everyone to make the cross shape and • Sit in a circle and then pass around the large, thick pray for a different person to know Jesus until the next rope. The leader should then tie the two ends shape is called. Keep it fast-moving. together firmly. • Cross arms out in front of the body in an X shape. • Explain that many Christians around the world use a • Cross fingers in front of the face in an X shape. rope with knots to help them pray. The central knot • Cross over the right hand to touch the left elbow and is often in the shape of a cross. then the left hand to touch the right elbow. • The circle is a symbol of God’s love that goes on for • Cross over the right hand to the left hip and then the ever and ever and which holds all things together. left hand to the right hip. • The cross is the guarantee of that love and the way • Cross over the left hand to the right knee and then we know that God’s love is for each one of us. the right hand to the left knee. The rope is made of three cords intertwined and this • Touch the left earlobe with the right hand and then is symbolic of the – Father, Son and Holy cross the left hand to the right ear lobe. Spirit – the three ways in which we experience God • Repeat these movements fairly briskly. who is nevertheless One. • Repeat them in a sitting position, including a new • Now hand out the smaller, coloured pieces of rope. one of crossing over the right elbow to touch the left Invite everyone to knot these on to the larger rope. knee and then the left elbow to touch the right knee. These represent prayers for someone they know to • Repeat some of these movements sitting come to know Jesus for themselves. cross-legged on the floor. • Once all the coloured robes have been tied on, invite • Repeat some of these movements lying on your everyone to talk about why they’ve chosen to pray back with your hands crossed behind your head for this person. Explain that you are all now going to and from this position touch different parts of the pass the rope around so that everyone holds on to a body with your elbows, making sure it is always different knot for a very short time. The time spent with opposite-to-opposite. each knot will depend on the size of the group, but • Repeat with your eyes closed! this should be no more than half a minute. As people God’s eternal love The Lord’s Prayer Another recommended crossover movement is to Finally, why not bring some of these actions and a few make use of the mathematical symbol for eternity new ones together by linking them up to the words which is an eight on its side... sometimes called a of the Lord’s Prayer? By doing this, you also slow the ‘lazy eight’. You could accompany the making of this prayer down and make each line more meaningful. sign in the ways described below, saying the words, Our Father... in heaven “God’s love lasts forever”. This is the amazing love Belly breathe in, counting 1, 2, 3 for the first two words; that we want to share with our friends and neighbours. then pause and count silently 1, 2, 3; before saying the • Extend your right hand and with your index finger next two words, as you breathe out 1, 2, 3. trace the eternity symbol in a large circuit out in Hallowed be your name front of your body. Follow it with your eyes, but do As you say these words, sit or kneel crossing your ankles not move your head. in front or behind you. In addition, stretch out each arm • Repeat this but using the left hand. in front of you, crossing hands at the wrist. Now link up • Repeat this shape making it larger or smaller. the fingers and then bring the clasped hands back • Follow an imaginary eternity symbol that you ‘see’, underneath towards your chin. Hold this for a while. first close, then far away, but without moving your Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven head. Do this again with your eyes shut. Reach out both arms in front of you and, with your index • Swing both arms together in this eternity shape in fingers, simultaneously trace the shape of a circle in the front of the body, making it as big as possible. air either side of the centre of your body (“Your will be • Trace the shape with your fingers in the air in done on earth”) and then trace the shape of a triangle various places within your field of vision. (“as it is in heaven”). • Lean your head on to your left shoulder, extend your Give us this day our daily bread right arm out and make the shape. Imitate the slow and deliberate eating bread. • Repeat this, leaning your head on your right shoulder. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us • As you repeat the action, hold a friend or neighbour Stand with feet apart and swing both arms linked before God in prayer. together to touch first your left and then your right knees, several times. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil Breathing prayer Stand upright and still again. Hold your left shoulder Good breathing can help you to focus and centre with your right hand, while you then slowly move your on God. head from one side to the other. Repeat this action, but Ideally you should always breathe from your belly; this time holding your right shoulder with your left hand. this allows your lungs to inflate to their maximum. For yours is the kingdom Practise doing this: Lift your right arm upwards above your head and hold • Breathe in through the nose, counting 1, 2, 3, on to it with your left arm folded around the back of hold the breath in, counting 1, 2, 3, your head. and then let the air out through your mouth, The power and the glory counting 1, 2, 3. Repeat this action but with your left arm held high • Many Christians use such breathing techniques in and your right arm holding on to it around the back of conjunction with a simple prayer in order to still your head. and centre themselves. Add these words for a For ever and ever repeated simple prayer for someone to know Jesus: With one arm extended out in front, trace with your index • God… of… love finger the mathematical shape for eternity (a lazy eight) • Help… [X]… know across the front of your body, following it with your eyes • Your… great… love but not moving your head. Amen

Bring both hands together in front of your face with all fingertips and thumbs touching those on the opposite hand, to create a structure like an open, upturned basket. Hold this for a few moments.